Patentable/Patents/US-10090344
US-10090344

Imaging device, method for operating the same, module, and electronic device

PublishedOctober 2, 2018
Assigneenot available in USPTO data we have
Inventorsnot available in USPTO data we have
Technical Abstract

An imaging device which can perform imaging with a global shutter system and in which transistors are shared by pixels is provided. The imaging device includes first and second photoelectric conversion elements and first to sixth transistors. Active layers of the first to fourth transistors each include an oxide semiconductor. The imaging device has a configuration in which a reset transistor and an amplifier transistor are shared by a plurality of pixels and can perform imaging with a global shutter system. In addition, the imaging device can be used as a high-speed camera.

Patent Claims
20 claims

Legal claims defining the scope of protection, as filed with the USPTO.

1

1. An imaging device comprising: a first pixel and a second pixel, each of the pixels comprising: a first photoelectric conversion element; a second photoelectric conversion element; a first transistor including a first active layer comprising a first oxide semiconductor; a second transistor including a second active layer comprising a second oxide semiconductor; a third transistor including a third active layer comprising a third oxide semiconductor; a fourth transistor including a fourth active layer comprising a fourth oxide semiconductor; a fifth transistor; and a sixth transistor, wherein one of terminals of the first photoelectric conversion element is electrically connected to one of a source and a drain of the first transistor, wherein one of terminals of the second photoelectric conversion element is electrically connected to one of a source and a drain of the second transistor, wherein the other of the source and the drain of the first transistor is electrically connected to one of a source and a drain of the third transistor, wherein the other of the source and the drain of the second transistor is electrically connected to one of a source and a drain of the fourth transistor, wherein the other of the source and the drain of the third transistor, the other of the source and the drain of the fourth transistor, one of a source and a drain of the fifth transistor, and a gate of the sixth transistor are electrically connected to each other, and wherein one of a source and a drain of the sixth transistor of the first pixel is directly connected to a power supply line and the other one of a source and a drain of the sixth transistor of the first pixel is directly connected to the sixth transistor of the second pixel.

2

2. The imaging device according to claim 1 , wherein a high potential is applied to the other of the terminals of the first photoelectric conversion element, and wherein a high potential is applied to the other of the terminals of the second photoelectric conversion element.

3

3. The imaging device according to claim 1 , wherein the first and second photoelectric conversion elements and the first to sixth transistors are stacked.

4

4. The imaging device according to claim 1 , wherein the first oxide semiconductor, the second oxide semiconductor, the third oxide semiconductor, and the fourth oxide semiconductor include In, Zn, and M, and wherein M is Al, Ti, Ga, Sn, Y, Zr, La, Ce, Nd, or Hf.

5

5. The imaging device according to claim 1 , wherein the fifth transistor includes a fifth active layer comprising a fifth oxide semiconductor.

6

6. The imaging device according to claim 1 , wherein the sixth transistor is an Si transistor.

7

7. The imaging device according to claim 1 , wherein the first photoelectric conversion element and the second photoelectric conversion element each comprise a material containing selenium.

8

8. A module comprising: the imaging device according to claim 1 ; and a lens.

9

9. An electronic device comprising: the imaging device according to claim 1 ; and a display device.

10

10. An imaging device comprising: a first pixel and a second pixel, each of the pixels comprising: a first photoelectric conversion element; a second photoelectric conversion element; a first transistor including a first active layer comprising a first oxide semiconductor; a second transistor including a second active layer comprising a second oxide semiconductor; a third transistor including a third active layer comprising a third oxide semiconductor; a fourth transistor including a fourth active layer comprising a fourth oxide semiconductor; a fifth transistor; a sixth transistor; a first capacitor including a terminal electrically connected to the other of the source and the drain of the first transistor; and a second capacitor including a terminal electrically connected to the other of the source and the drain of the second transistor, wherein one of terminals of the first photoelectric conversion element is electrically connected to one of a source and a drain of the first transistor, wherein one of terminals of the second photoelectric conversion element is electrically connected to one of a source and a drain of the second transistor, wherein the other of the source and the drain of the first transistor is electrically connected to one of a source and a drain of the third transistor, wherein the other of the source and the drain of the second transistor is electrically connected to one of a source and a drain of the fourth transistor, wherein the other of the source and the drain of the third transistor, the other of the source and the drain of the fourth transistor, one of a source and a drain of the fifth transistor, and a gate of the sixth transistor are electrically connected to each other, and wherein one of a source and a drain of the sixth transistor of the first pixel is directly connected to a power supply line and the other one of a source and a drain of the sixth transistor of the first pixel is directly connected to the sixth transistor of the second pixel.

11

11. The imaging device according to claim 10 , wherein a high potential is applied to the other of the terminals of the first photoelectric conversion element, and wherein a high potential is applied to the other of the terminals of the second photoelectric conversion element.

12

12. The imaging device according to claim 10 , wherein the first and second photoelectric conversion elements and the first to sixth transistors are stacked.

13

13. The imaging device according to claim 10 , wherein the first oxide semiconductor, the second oxide semiconductor, the third oxide semiconductor, and the fourth oxide semiconductor include In, Zn, and M, and wherein M is Al, Ti, Ga, Sn, Y, Zr, La, Ce, Nd, or Hf.

14

14. The imaging device according to claim 10 , wherein the fifth transistor includes a fifth active layer comprising a fifth oxide semiconductor.

15

15. The imaging device according to claim 10 , wherein the sixth transistor is an Si transistor.

16

16. The imaging device according to claim 10 , wherein the first photoelectric conversion element and the second photoelectric conversion element each comprise a material containing selenium.

17

17. A module comprising: the imaging device according to claim 10 ; and a lens.

18

18. An electronic device comprising: the imaging device according to claim 10 ; and a display device.

19

19. The imaging device according to claim 1 , wherein a gate of the first transistor and a gate of the second transistor are electrically connected to each other.

20

20. The imaging device according to claim 10 , wherein a gate of the first transistor and a gate of the second transistor are electrically connected to each other.

Classification Codes (CPC)

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Patent Metadata

Filing Date

September 1, 2016

Publication Date

October 2, 2018

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